March 2018

Hello, once again! Antoni, here, with yet another fanfic starring Inuyasha and Ayame. I will be taking a look at The Promise, which was written by darling krash, published on August 14, 2006, and last updated on September 30 of that same year. It’s rated M. It’s in English. It has eight chapters. It’s Romance/Drama, and aside from Inuyasha and Ayame as the main couple and main protagonists, we also have in this story Miroku, Sango, Kagome, Jakotsu, Kouga, an OC by the name of Doctor Kameko, and a whole bunch of villagers. As I read this fanfic, I cannot tell you how I excited I am to talk about it. So, without further ado, let’s get cracking. Jakotsu from the Band of Seven is attacking some villagers and marauding the overall peace. Inuyasha steps in to stop this pillage caused by the last of the Band of Seven or the Shichinintai, but little does he know, Ayame comes to aid him, as Jakotsu also murdered some members of her tribe. Together they finish Jakotsu off but at a price, Inuyasha’s palm is injured. Once Kagome brings in the bandages and disinfectants, Ayame willingly tends to Inuyasha’s wound. Meanwhile, Ayame’s den has been attacked by none other than Naraku, who has also taken her grandfather’s life. Inuyasha, sensing peril, rushes to go save her. Seeing Ayame injured, after her ordeal with Naraku, he rushes her to the village doctor, who tends to her wounds, feeds her well, and gives her lovely dresses. Whilst all of this is happening, Inuyasha and Ayame start becoming a lot closer than they think and this could be love, even though her grandfather’s dying words are for her to marry a warrior from Kouga’s tribe. What sells this story for me is the growing relationship between Inuyasha and Ayame. It is clear as night and day that even though Ayame is tied to her grandfather’s promise and Inuyasha tied to the past with Kikyo and the present with Kagome, these two are clearly meant for each other. For eight chapters, I definitely felt a lot of emotions surging through me and it kind of helped that there was a song in the form of I’ll Stay with You originally sung by Beth Hart in the fourth chapter, as Inuyasha sings a fragment of this to soothe Ayame. On a tangential note, as I heard the song on YouTube, I did imagine Richard Ian Cox singing the English version and Kappei Yamaguchi the Japanese version, which I thought was kind of cute. Sure, I would’ve loved the story to have gone longer, and develop how Kagome was going to further react to this, as well as how Kouga is going to take it. Probably, he would’ve decided that now that Ayame belongs to Inuyasha, he can very well be by Kagome’s side, though certain relationship issues will not stop Miroku, Kouga, Inuyasha, Sango, Kagome, and Ayame from destroying Naraku. Speaking of which, we could’ve had an epic battle involving these six and Naraku. However, as it is, the fanfic has been left abandoned for eleven to twelve years. To give it the benefit of the doubt, how it ended in the eighth chapter was at least satisfying knowing that Inuyasha and Ayame are an item, slight spoilers there. By and large, even though I would’ve loved to have more in this story, it is still a solid package full of heart. Inuyasha and Ayame, as always, steal the show in this fanfic. While Inuyasha maintains his brash, strong-minded, and defensive nature, it’s balanced out by a sensitive side. I, as the reader, can witness his vulnerability, when it comes to his past, as his human mother Izayoi was the only one who ever gave him any type of love and without her, he felt like no one else mattered, and his genuine, pure, steadfast love for Ayame. He will do everything in his power to not only protect Ayame from all harm but to also give her the love, affection, and time she truly deserves. Ayame maintains her steadfastness, loyalty, and sense of familial pride to her clan. She will do everything in her power to ensure that her grandfather, who was killed by Naraku, will be avenged, along with the rest of her tribe. She still has feelings for Kouga. However, as she met Inuyasha, he was very much the one who gave her his true love and protection. Even though she sees Kouga as her solution to unite their tribes, it is clear that her heart and her being belong to Inuyasha. I know I am going to sound like a broken record, but this is the fanfic which made me root for them as a couple. Not only do they present themselves as strong capable fighters who are intrepid enough to go physical, but they also have admiration and respect for each other. Thus emitting empathy from both of these characters. Not to mention, their chemistry is absolutely amazing, especially when they consider that they don’t have this type of emotional depth with their respective “partners”, Inuyasha with Kikyo then Kagome and Ayame with Kouga. As mentioned before, they knew they were destined for each other, even though they have to work it out if they truly are. It would be easy to make Kagome the jealous and clingy girl. However, she is someone who at first was befuddled, as to why Inuyasha would go out of his way to protect Ayame, but now she does get the hint, that these two have more genuine feelings for each other than Inuyasha has for Kagome and Kikyo combined. Sango ends up being rather emphatic in this story, as she not only understands Inuyasha’s vulnerability but Ayame’s growing feelings for him. She knows fully well that Inuyasha truly loves Ayame. Miroku is still his chivalrous pervert self, as he even suggests to Inuyasha that he should grope…

Hey, everybody! Antoni, here, with another fan fiction recommendation. Today I am taking a look at another Inuyasha fanfic entitled Wolf Dog written by BonaFideGarbage and published on February 4, 2009. It’s rated M. It’s in English. It’s Hurt/Comfort/Romance, and the main couple is Inuyasha and Ayame. Other characters involved, yet mentioned through exposition, are Kagome Higurashi, Sango, Kouga, Miroku, and Shippou. As you can tell, I am totally up for some hot, steamy action from my two of my most favorite anime characters in the world and OTP, Inuyasha/Ayame. So, let’s cut to the chase! After Naraku’s defeat and death, Inuyasha and his friends decide to go their separate ways. Miroku and Sango ended up being married with children. Shippou is in the search for other kitsune. The icing on the cake is Kagome splitting up from Inuyasha and becoming Kouga’s wife. This irritates Inuyasha so much to the point where his inner full demon forcefully advises him to get over that failed relationship. One day at a hot spring, Inuyasha spots Ayame, who is about to immerse herself in the steamy yet soothing water, while feeling down that Kouga would dare choose Kagome over her. He questions what she is doing at his relaxation spot, as she starts to get suspicious. That is until Inuyasha comes down from the tree as his hiding spot and Ayame finally recognizes him. What follows are moments of self-revelation from both sides and a rapidly blossoming romance between them. By and large, I did find myself thoroughly enjoying the story, as it is a nice balance of genuine character interactions and some well-deserved eroticism between Inuyasha and Ayame. The story does build itself up rather nicely and I love the inclusion of having Inuyasha’s full yokai form as a sort of conscience, as he is meant to be a symbol of Inuyasha’s animalistic instincts. This creature is just so tired of Inuyasha’s complaining that he actually spurs him to do something about his problem. Enter Ayame, who unfortunately was in a similar situation as Inuyasha, as these two have more than just a heart-to-heart conversation. Overall, the story does not rely too much on the eroticism but rather builds up the necessary development for our two main characters before the deed is done. One tiny caveat I have to give is, how do the other characters react to this? Part of me thinks that they are first hesitant, but turn face when they realize that Inuyasha and Ayame are truly compatible. Talking about the characters is talking about Inuyasha and Ayame. As always, Inuyasha maintains his defensive, brash, easily peeved, angry, yet strong-willed and charming personality. The fact that he has is full yokai side within his conscience kind of makes him rather dangerous yet fascinating. Whenever Ayame starts to weep, he tells her, albeit abrasively, that whatever they have experienced is all in the past and they need to move on. Ayame is presented here as a jilted lover, who cannot fathom why Kouga would choose Kagome as his mate over her. She initially has a hard time accepting it until she sees Inuyasha. Knowing what he went through in the past given his hanyou status, his first tragic falling out with Kikyou, and his latest one with Kagome, she easily empathizes and establishes a much stabler connection with him. In terms of their lovemaking scene, she is the submissive one to Inuyasha’s more alpha male actions. In terms of her characterization, she maintains her strong will and occasional vulnerability making her a diverse character overall. Even though the other characters in the forms of Miroku, Kouga, Sango, Kagome, and Shippou are only shown in bits and pieces, they do contribute well to the plot, even though it would have been nice to see how they react to such a change occurring between Inuyasha and Ayame. The only issues I have in terms of the grammar, spelling, and other technicalities mainly chalk up to minute missing letters from certain words. Otherwise, the layout is really good and the language does serve its purpose as an erotic romance story. So, overall, this was a really well-done Inuyasha/Ayame fanfic. If you are into erotic romance stories with a good amount of steam and genuine character relationships, this could be for you. With that said, I give this fanfic a solid A+. In spite of some super minor gripes, I still have to salute it for at least delivering the goods in terms of Inuyasha’s and Ayame’s relationship. There was rarely a time I had to correct in terms of grammar or spelling and I had an overall blast. Well, that’s all for now. Tune in later where I recommend another Inuyasha/Ayame fanfic, The Promise by darling krash. So, until then, have an awesome Easter Week. Wolf Dog by BonaFideGarbage

Hello, once again. Antoni, here, with another fan fiction “recommendation”, you will see why I put that in quotation marks. Let’s now switch our attention to what I consider my Inuyasha OTP, Inuyasha/Ayame, as I will be taking a look at The Blue Twin, which was written by Never Surrender, published on September 29, 2005, and last updated on December 9 of that same year. It’s rated T. It’s in English. It’s Drama/Romance. It has 23 chapters, and, obviously, the main pairing is Inuyasha/Ayame. Other characters involved are Miroku, Sango, Kagome Higurashi, Shippou, Kouga, Kaede, Sesshoumaru, Jaken, Myoga, and Kirara. There are also some OCs namely Kori, Kome, and Yume, more on them later. I did encounter this fanfic a few times and I was kind of excited to take a gander at it considering how much of a die-hard Inuyasha/Ayame shipper I am. With that said, let’s get on to what I thought about this particular fanfic. It’s a warm and peaceful day in Feudal Japan, where not much is happening. That is until someone who looks like Inuyasha, except with blue hair and attire, arrives, thus leaving Kagome, Shippou, Sango, Miroku, and, especially, Inuyasha in utter shock. That someone in question is his long-lost twin brother, Kori, and he is really excited to see Inuyasha after several years. Sesshoumaru, on the other hand, is less than enthusiastic. Along the way, there are new relationships to be made with Kouga and Kagome, Inuyasha and Ayame, and Kori and Kirara, who can somehow turn into a humanoid form, Miroku being wed to Sango, thus bearing his first child, some deceptions, broken relationships, and even a kinship to be formed between Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, and Kori. By and large, the story was rather enjoyable, as I did enjoy how the characters interacted with each other. There was one major headscratcher, though, and it was, how on earth did Kirara obtain a humanoid form? Was there a certain power which made her do so at will? Are there any conditions she has to go through for it to happen? It was not thoroughly mentioned nor explained how that happened because in the original anime she can only go from her little cat form to her big, battle cat-like form with blazing flames. The fourth chapter, as proclaimed by the author, was a filler chapter and that was not really necessary other than to drag the main story’s plot. Speaking of filler, there were times some scenes did feel like filler, but it was not too much. At times, the story can be melodramatic, but it’s well-balanced with some humor, action scenes, and a few touching moments found in the climax and especially the ending. There are also some character deaths to be found in this fanfic but despite all that, I thought there were some moments in the final few chapters which were rather touching, sweet, and left a smile on my face. The characters were still quite enjoyable to witness. Inuyasha still has his trademark impulsivity, sarcasm, brashness, and overall jerk with a heart of gold nature. In spite of all that, he also shows a good amount of compassion, especially with Ayame. He was very much in character all throughout the fanfic. Not to reveal any major spoilers, but let’s just say I was really happy when Kori took off the beads of subjugation from Inuyasha. Now we get to the main OC of this fanfic, Kori. In terms of design, I cannot really imagine him with blue hair but the blue haori I can certainly envision. Personality-wise, he is the complete opposite of Inuyasha. He’s jolly, sweet-natured, lovable, and happy-go-lucky as opposed to Inuyasha’s occasional crabbiness and sarcasm. He bears a sword called the Ketsaiga, which can only kill fifty demons. There are times he can be annoying but not on the level where it is obnoxious. His brand of annoying is kind of endearing, as he has lived in the North all of his life, has only heard about certain key events in passing, and has never left his territory. Yet, how he manages to know all of these key events and people like Kouga, Sesshoumaru’s mokomoko and even Kikyo is beyond me. I can forgive the occasional annoyance I have with Kori, as he is at least entertaining and does not take too much screentime. When reading his dialogue, I kind of imagine Brad Swaile or Samuel Vincent voicing him on the English side and Tomokazu Seki on the Japanese side. By and large, he is a pretty fun addition to the cast and he works well off of Inuyasha. Ayame has toned down her high strung nature yet still keeps that strength within her, which makes her consistently awesome. It was a bit of a shame that she entered somewhere in the ninth chapter because I would’ve loved to see a lot more of her in the previous chapters and let her grow from there. In spite of all that, she still proves herself to be worthy of Inuyasha because of how strong of a character she is and I have been rooting for them to be together. Like I said, what happens to them in the climax and even the ending is really heartwarming, adorable, and sweet. Kirara does serve her purpose as the team mascot and main source of transportation and here, as mentioned earlier, she has a humanoid form. Again, why she ended up having that I will never know. It’s safe to say that she is loyal, smart, and she proves herself to be a capable, strong fighter in both her cat-demon form and her humanoid form. Sesshoumaru keeps his brand of coldness and indifference in this story, as he initially wants nothing to do with either Inuyasha or Kori. Throughout the story, he eventually warms up a little bit more to the point where he can tolerate both Inuyasha and Kori. What happens to him…

Hello, once again! Antoni aka the Brick, Butch, Blossom, and Buttercup FanFiction Critic and Recommender, here with another Reds-centered fanfic. As promised, I will be taking a look at the sequel to Wedding Madness, Baby Madness, written once again by crazycatmommy and published on January 16, 2017. It’s rated T. It’s in English. It’s Romance/Humor. It’s in fourteen chapters, and the main pairing is, obviously, Brick/Blossom. Other pairings featured here are Butch/Buttercup and Boomer/Bubbles. Other characters featured are Professor Utonium, Miss Keane, Miss Bellum, Robin, Mary, and Dexter from Dexter’s Laboratory. There are also some OCs in the forms of Blossom’s co-worker Stuart, Dr. Rosenstein, and some other co-workers of Brick and Blossom. Since the story takes place some months after the Wedding Madness in the span of a year, the main characters are between 22 and 23 to 23 and 24. Well, folks, the Reds have struck again, along with the Greens and the Blues. As you can tell by the fanfic title, Blossom is going to give birth after that cliffhanger in Wedding Madness. With that said, let’s get on to what I thought about Baby Madness. Brick and Blossom are excited and anxious that they are going be parents to their newborn baby but they are not sure of the baby’s gender. Butch and Buttercup are confident it’s going to be a boy. Whereas Boomer and Bubbles are confident it’s going to be a girl. What follows is a wager between Brick’s and Blossom’s younger siblings thus being excited to be uncles and aunties to the newborn child, loads of baby shower preparations in courtesy of Bubbles, an ex-boyfriend in the form of Dexter coming to see Blossom, Professor Utonium being excited about the prospect as a grandfather, Boomer’s and Bubbles’ upcoming wedding in Disney World, and the pangs of pregnancy as experienced by Blossom. By and large, I consider this story an exceptional follow-up to Wedding Madness. It maintains its charm, humor, great buildup, and interest, and I dare not spoil the ending, as it is very heartwarming, sweet, adorable and a great way to wrap everything up. Even more so, I almost teared up in the ending. When all is said and done, this story left me wanting more, as I was thoroughly entertained, touched, and let’s just say I loved everything about it from beginning to end. Seeing that this is also a story of a woman getting pregnant, this is also handled with such thought, care, and sensitivity, especially considering the research and hard work crazycatmommy put into understanding about special classes like the Lamaze technique. To top it all off, there were even some references to the original Powerpuff Girls episodes and those were Mime for a Change, Knock it Off, and Cover Up for all the hardcore PPG fans out there. The characters certainly developed magnificently from the prequel. My heart really went out for Brick in this fanfic. He certainly grew into a mature, wise, caring, emphatic, noble, loving, hardworking, and steadfast husband to Blossom and father-to-be for the new baby. He even proves himself to be an excellent cook making healthy meals for not only Blossom but for the pair of them. I literally rooted for him and Blossom to make it through this particular ordeal and I couldn’t be any happier. Blossom proves herself to be a devoted, strong, steadfast, loving, loyal, and awesome wife to Brick. During her pregnancy, she had one moment where she exploded at Brick. However, what comes after this will leave one with a huge grin. As a mother-to-be, she does have her anxieties in terms of how she will look during and after childbirth and how healthy their child will be. One also has to leave it up to her loving husband, Brick, to ensure that everything will be all right and she can put her faith in him. As a married couple, these two have excellently heartwarming chemistry. Gone is the bickering from their childhood, as it has made way to pure genuine love and support for each other. In sickness and in health, these two leaders have each others’ backs all step of the way. Butch has toned down his impulsivity and still manages to be charming and hilarious, in an occasionally irreverent manner. Even more so, he ended up being happily married to Buttercup after everything they went through. Moreover, Butch is a supportive, kind, and loyal brother to Brick, and a good brother-in-law to Blossom, even though he can be cheeky, with the whole prosthetic belly dare to Brick. Buttercup has also toned down her stubbornness and impulsivity, and she continues to have Blossom’s back when it came to taking her to her Lamaze class. Even though it was only mentioned, Buttercup states that even though she calls Butch rude names on some occasions, they always make love to each other to compensate for all crazy crap that happened. Even more so, that trademark tomboyish spark she has never dissipated, which has consistently made her endearing. Boomer has proven himself to be an endearing, loving, and totally caring fiancé to Bubbles. It was clear as night and day that these two will eventually end up together, in terms of their plans of getting married in Disneyworld Florida. Sure, he does keep his cheekiness, but it’s done in a way that makes him amusing as a character. Once again, Bubbles steals the show. She goes out of her way to make sure the baby shower will be absolutely perfect. Sure, her whole preparation schtick does feel like a rehash of the one in Wedding Madness, but it’s really nice to see someone who takes the full initiative to make her eldest sister happy. Bubbles still manages to be a good listener to Blossom’s suggestions, even though she is fully confident that the newborn baby will be a girl. Professor Utonium maintains his trademark benevolence as a father to his…

Hey, everybody! Antoni aka the Brick, Butch, Blossom, and Buttercup FanFiction Critic and Recommender with a Reds-centered fanfic. I’m taking a look at Wedding Madness, which was written by crazycatmommy, published on December 8, 2016, and last updated on January 16, 2017. It’s rated T. It’s in English. It has sixteen chapters. It’s Romance/Humor and aside from Brick and Blossom as the main couple, there is also Butch/Buttercup and Boomer/Bubbles. Other characters involved are Professor Utonium, Miss Keane, Miss Bellum, Robin Snyder, Mary, the chubby girl who is one of the girls’ kindergarten classmates, and Mitch Mitchelson. There are also some OCs in the forms of Candace, Butch’s rebound girlfriend, Jeff, Buttercup’s rebound boyfriend, Sarah the saleslady from Bijou and Belle’s Bridal, Claire the manager of Tasty Cakes, and a teenage girl, who I presume is the intern or someone with a part-time job. Even more so, Brick, Butch, Blossom, Buttercup, Boomer, and Bubbles are between 22 to 23. If I were not obvious already, I now turn my attention to Brick and Blossom also known as the Reds. Whether one likes them as a couple or finds this pairing overrated, there’s no doubt that their dynamics have something rather interesting. Sure, in the TV show, their relationship was antagonistic at best, given the fact that Brick is impulsive, prone to anger, a bully, a major troublemaker, yet has enough street smarts to survive and Blossom is book smart, rational, intelligent, and strong-minded, but let’s not forget, they were about 5 or 6 years old and they were certainly not yet ready to be in an age where they can be together. In terms of how they are usually portrayed as teenagers or young adults mostly in fanfics and fanart, they seem to have this will they or will they not type of dynamic. Partly because they are the eldest and they have to deal with their younger siblings the best they can every single day, in spite of arguments and disagreements, and partly because of their roles as leaders, as they have to constantly face the burden of their responsibilities to not only their family but also the City of Townsville, even though Brick and Butch would usually be assigned in the anti-hero parts with Boomer mostly leaning towards hero. Even more so, they tend to not have the usually clichéd fairy-tale romance, as they are tested to look beyond their personal biases, do what they can to keep the totality of their team together and do what they can to set examples not only as leaders but as the eldest children. Brick, at least according to a lot of shippers, would even grow up to be as smart as Blossom, as he wisened up from his previous life as an impulsive punk and can be more than what he has bargained for, to say the least. All in all, in terms of fan work, unlike Boomer’s and Bubbles’ sentimental, sweet, yet syrupy romance and Butch’s and Buttercup’s Takahashi-level belligerent sexual tension where they are constantly bickering and going back together, Brick’s and Blossom’s relationship grows at a steady yet realistic rate, showing how being in a relationship can be tough if one is not on the same page, if old wounds are in desperate need of healing, and if one is really willing to grow up and take full responsibility for everything one does as an individual and as a couple. Okay, enough of my rambling, let’s get on to what I thought about this fanfic. It seems incredible that Brick and Blossom have been dating for five years. Granted this transition was not at all easy, due to their turbulent past as enemies when they were kids and as teenagers, they ended up matriculating in the same high school. Through this turn of events, Brick and Blossom steadily ended up being good friends, as she was still in a relationship with Dexter. However, she decided to break up with him after some derogatory remarks directed not only at Blossom but her sisters too. Come one day at Brick’s soccer match does he make the move on Blossom to be his girlfriend and all the way up until college, with Brick being in a community college and Blossom in Yale, he decides to give her a romantic trip to Paris for two, as a graduation present. Whilst in Paris, he then proposes to her and Blossom joyously accepts. The news has been spread to their siblings and the wedding preparations are being put into motion in courtesy of Bubbles. What follows is a gamut of madcap activities from Butch’s and Buttercup’s break up leading them to try to get back at each other with their respective rebound partners while still harboring feelings for each other, Bubbles trying desperately to make the wedding plans as perfect as possible, Boomer’s love for Bubbles ever increasing, and Brick and Blossom just doing what they can to keep it together. This story is an absolutely fun blend of humor, romance, and truly genuine and heartwarming moments, enough for one to feel so fuzzy inside. Speaking of the humor, it also functions as a sort of comedy of errors. From Butch and Buttercup setting up strippers for the main couple to the cake fight to Brick and Blossom not being able to tolerate their siblings’ tomfoolery to the main couple’s romantic moment of intimacy being interrupted by Butch’s whining to even the main couple attempting to elope in Paris, there are a lot of moments where I did find myself laughing. I dare not spoil the ending but let’s just say that it’s not only greatly satisfying seeing our three favorite couples together, especially the main one, but it managed to wrap everything up so blissfully and warmheartedly. Even more so, the ending gives the reader a major hint that there will be a continuation. By and large, the story was charming, rollickingly fun, and it’s almost reminiscent of such films like The…

Am I more Asian than a critic, or more critic than an Asian? It all started in December on a cold, cold night in Texas, in the most sheltered place I’ve ever had the pleasure of staying in. Once BoJack said, “Chapter one. CHAPTER one…” I was sold. Despite my complete ignorance of the current world of Hollywoo, I took this on and decided that I was really going to get into the essence of what this show is, which I’m sorry to say, many people, BoJack fans included, probably don’t get. Though I didn’t get to expand on Princess Carolyn’s urban German bourbon blurbing, as I explained to PlutoBurns, every word in this half hour review (by far my longest) has been uttered with purpose. I cannot say this about any of my other reviews– I gave it everything I had because it sincerely deserved my full attention. My hopes are that this show will gain much more respect despite its overwrought-ness, verbosity, and its general lack of ability to portray an Asian female correctly. It’s not perfect, yes, but its deeper message is indisputable, which I applaud over and over again. Here’s my heart, people. Eat of my flesh and drink of my blood. Boxer vs. Raptor! Na-na-na-na-na-na!

Hello, once again! Antoni, here, aka the Brick, Butch, Blossom, and Buttercup FanFiction Critic and Recommender back with another recommendation starring the Greens and co-starring the Reds. It is called She Ain’t You written by SilverTonguedHunter and published on June 18, 2014. It’s rated T. It’s in English and the genre is Drama/Hurt/Comfort. All the characters here are in their mid-to-late teens. The Greens have struck again in this fanfic and they have been joined by the Reds. So, let’s not waste any time and get on with it, shall we? Butch, feeling like Buttercup has been inaccessible to him, as she broke up with him, decides to see other girls. However, there is one problem. They do not measure up to Buttercup’s brand of femininity, and as a resolve, he dumps his latest fling, while having coffee. The question remains if Butch really wants to rekindle with Buttercup, with Brick’s pep talk propelling him to do so. By and large, this story is simple, short, and sweet, as it is a one-shot. It did not need to complicate nor convolute things. However, if you ask me, I would’ve loved to have a little more development, as to why Butch is the way he is. The scene that really stood out to me was, undoubtedly, Brick’s pep talk to Butch, more on him later when I talk about the characters. As to be expected, it is absolutely lovely to see Brick, Butch, Blossom, and Buttercup in this particular one-shot. Butch serves as our flawed hero who can’t stand Buttercup and her indifference towards him. In spite of that, his feelings for her grow and grow, to the point where he is sick and tired of all of these insipid flings with the other girls. Despite everything they do or say to each other, he knows that Buttercup might just be his Mrs. Right, but he is hesitant to think that. Plus, it’s also nice that Butch’s impulsive nature was intact, making him all the more balanced as a character. Brick plays his role as the wiser older brother, given that he is in a stable relationship with Blossom. He makes sure that Butch does not do anything foolish or worth regretting. He serves as the only sane man to Butch’s impulsivity, which is something I find very endearing. Blossom only appears in the middle, as she and Brick were having a little session with each other departs to be in her room studying. She does keep her sweetness and diligence intact, but it would’ve been nice if she had a say on this in terms of her sister, as she has known all her life. I’m very sure she could have given Butch that extra push to go back to Buttercup so that they can rekindle their broken relationship. Speaking of Buttercup, she appears in the beginning and the end. There is no shadow of a doubt that she kept her brand of sarcasm in the first part, but it would’ve also been nice if she were given a lot more development. By and large, the story is well-woven and well-written. However, there was one grammatical I spotted near the ending and that was the phrase “much to her upset”, which should have been replaced as “much to her annoyance or displeasure”. In spite of that, I spotted no other mistakes. Overall, this was a rather nice and short Butch/Buttercup-centered fanfic. Even though it could’ve benefitted from more character development, I still think it’s a worthy read if you are a Greens fan. With that said, I give this fanfic an A. Some slight things do need to be fixed up, but otherwise, go read it. You might feel charmed by its simplicity. Well, that’s all for now. Tune in later for a Brick/Blossom-centered fanfic called Wedding Madness, which was written by crazycatmommy. Until then, this is Antoni aka the Brick, Butch, Blossom, and Buttercup FanFiction Critic and Recommender wishing you all a most pleasant day. She Ain’t You by SilverTonguedHunter

Hey, everybody! Antoni, here, with another Powerpuff Girls fanfiction recommendation. I’ll be taking a look at Loosen up Buttercup written by xxTommiexx, published on March 26, 2013, and updated on June 24 of the same year. It’s rated T. It’s in English. It’s in 12 chapters and the main pairing is Butch/Buttercup with some hints of Brick/Blossom and Boomer/Bubbles. Other characters involved are Mitch Mitchelson, Princess Morbucks, and Dexter from Dexter’s Laboratory. All the characters in the fanfic are teenagers between 17 to 18 years old, and for that, there will be swearing to be found in this fanfic. Ah, Butch and Buttercup. When it comes to fanworks involving the greens, they have an interesting dynamic. A lot of people interpret their relationship as on-and-off with a lot of belligerent sexual tension enough to give any Takahashi couple a run for their money. And boy, do I enjoy Butchercup like there’s no tomorrow. When one combines Butch’s untamed bruiser nature with Buttercup’s tomboyish bruiser cuteness, it’s certainly a fun yet dysfunctional pair up of great interest, as there is neither a dull nor syrupy moment to be found with them. One can tell that with pairings like this and Blossick it’s not easy being in a relationship and it’s no fairy tale, as things need to be patched up for reconciliation’s sakes and it takes a lot for two people to be on the same page no matter how tough or demanding circumstances may be. With that said, let’s get on to what I thought about the fanfic. Butch and Buttercup have been in a relationship for what seems to be barely a year. Prior to this, a freak accident occurred in Professor Utonium’s laboratory, which decreased Townsville’s crime rate as well as turned the Rowdyruff Boys into the side of good. Throughout the course of the story, Butch’s and Buttercup’s relationship is constantly being put to the test riddled with an old flame Buttercup had at the beginning of her high school years and abundant trust issues. Thus, causing the two to be at odds with each other, especially where Buttercup’s attitude is concerned. Meanwhile, Brick, Blossom, Boomer, and Bubbles are doing their very best to ensure that Butch’s and Buttercup’s relationship does not go haywire. This story is essentially The Powerpuff Girls meets The OC, 90210, and many other teen melodrama you can think of, given the will they or will they not situation that Butch and Buttercup find themselves in. I will give the story credit for not sugar coating how tough being in a relationship really is, as arguments will occur, trust between a couple will be tested, and there will be a tendency to be defensive when push comes to shove. The first chapter could have used an establishing paragraph to indicate where and what time does the action takes place, who are the main characters and how do they present themselves, and what is the overall mood in the beginning. Just going straight into dialogue ruins the initial world building the story has to offer. Then there is the whole reveal in the climax in terms of the Rowdyruff Boys and the Powerpuff Girls powers, which was an exposition dump of what really happened, and the possibility of a sequel, which was never made. I’m very sure xxTommiexx wanted to focus particularly on Butch’s and Buttercup’s roller coaster of a relationship, but it would’ve been nice if the whole backstory were more fleshed out from the beginning and if there were also a continuation of this whole story in the form of a separate story, as the ending, though well done, made me feel like I could have wanted more. I do have some favorite moments in this fanfic such as Buttercup adamantly telling Butch to stop smoking in both the flashback in Chapter 2 and after Butch’s beatdown with Mitch in Chapter 5, as she does care a great deal for him, in spite of her crabby outer shell. Even small moments like the flashback of her and Butch watching a soccer game, Blossom’s pep talk to Buttercup, as well as Brick’s and Boomer’s word of friendship are enough to make me feel elated. Let’s not forget about Butch’s and Mitch’s fight in Chapter 5, which I do have playing on my head. In terms of the final chapter, I am not going to spoil it, but let’s just say that it was really sweet and it put a nice smile on my face for our main couple. The characters all maintained their charm with a few tweaks. To say that Butch is the designated male hero dampens the overall quality of his characterization presented in this fanfic. He keeps his impulsive, brawns first nature to a T, yet it is coupled with his brand of nobility, sensitivity, and charm, which make him all the more lovable and diverse as a male protagonist to the point where I not only admire him but root for him as well. He is a flawed hero, who does his best to protect Buttercup from any ills, and I really love his characterization in this fanfic. It is so simple to mark Buttercup as pushy and easily defensive, but as the toughest fighter, needing help from others as well as putting her guard down are not things she is bent on doing. Some people, whether it would be Butch, Blossom, or even Mitch, call her out on it. It’s nice to see that the author kept her tough, tomboyish, fiercely independent, sarcastic yet impulsive and at times cynical front intact, and couple that with a few moments of sensitivity and relatability. I, as the reader, was completely invested with Butch’s and Buttercup’s roller coaster of a relationship. They love each other to bits, yet they break up and get back together, and it’s a crazy ride these two go through. But, like I said, their romance is not an idealistic fairy-tale, it’s real and at times raw,…

Hello once again! Antoni, or as the case may be the Brick, Butch, Blossom, and Buttercup FanFiction Critic and Recommender, here, back with another fan fiction guilty pleasure. This time, I am taking a look at another Powerpuff Girls fanfic this time involving the Rowdyruff Boys called Rowdyruffboys Apocalypse, which was written by TheUndertalker33 and last updated on June 11, 2015. It’s rated M. It’s in English, it’s in ten chapters, even though it’s left unfinished, and the main pairing is Brick/Butch. Boomer only appears in the first chapter and is never seen again throughout the rest of the story. You will find out why. Even more so, Brick and Butch are in their late teens and twenties in this fanfic. As to be expected, I am feeling rather naughty again, as there is also one thing I have to admit. While I do feel kind of titillated by having Blossom and Buttercup being paired up as lovers in fanart and fanfics, I am equally as titillated when Brick and Butch get paired up as lovers in fan works, even though they are brothers. If it were not already obvious, this is basically an RRBcest fanfic involving Brick and Butch. Before I start talking about the fanfic, in particular, I would like to reiterate that I enjoy Brick’s and Butch’s chemistry as brothers, and at times it’s not hard to see why some fan artists and fanfic writers would pair them together. Much like their counterparts, Blossom and Buttercup, these guys are the eldest of the Rowdyruff Boys, with Brick being first eldest and Butch being the second eldest. Sure, Boomer does come off as a butt monkey, as both Brick and Butch gang up on him because he’s the youngest and the dimmest, especially the former, given what was evidenced in the episode “Bubble Boy”, but, in spite of that, at least the Rowdyruff Boys work as a unit. Additionally, while Brick is the street-smart, abrasive, rough and tumble, and large-and-in-charge big brother who is unafraid of exposing so much machismo, Butch is the energetic muscle middle brother with bouts of psychosis. Thus, making them complement each other in a brotherly tough love way, with Butch obeying Brick’s every command like his most loyal pet. What is also recognizable about the both of them is that they are also completely impulsive and hotheaded bruisers. The slightest provocation would be enough to set Brick and/or Butch on a rampage, as they will get aggressively physical. Despite their machismo, there is something oddly charming about both Brick and Butch, and that is they don’t take crap from anybody and they both have strong and bombastic personalities to make them all the more enjoyable to watch, as these two have the closest brotherly bond. When it comes to writing fanfics with Brick and Butch as the main focus, it is the standard procedure for fanfic authors to make Brick the more responsible and more intelligent sibling to Butch’s impulsiveness and Boomer’s naiveté. Thus, bringing more charm, diversity, and dimension not only to the boys as individuals but also as a group, especially when teamed up with the Powerpuff Girls. Even more so, Brick would usually have his own brand of tough love to make sure his brothers do not do anything worth regretting, rash or foolish, as he does carry the burden of being the eldest of his brood. Even more so, fan artists and fanfic authors also try to tap into Brick’s secret genius side, Butch’s unique brand of charm, and Boomer’s sensitivity to make them even more heroic than what they are portrayed in the TV show. With that said, let’s get on to what I thought about this particular fanfic. The story is set in a cataclysmic location, where zombies kill people and the survivors barely stand a chance to live much further. Brick, Butch, and Boomer attack the zombies known as runners with what weapons they have. However, it is all too late for Boomer, as he is killed by one of the runners. Butch blames himself for his brother’s loss, as the two remaining Rowdyruffs have no choice but to soldier on. Along the way, Brick and Butch are doing their best to survive with what little they have and what they have to scavenge, whilst their feelings for each other grow far beyond fraternal love, as they get more intimate with each other. The way the story builds itself up was pretty well done and it knew when to put in a sex scene in the right moments rather than go at it immediately. I also liked it that it was set in an apocalyptic world, making the entire affair a survival of the fittest situation for these protagonists, as they have to survive in a world ravaged by zombies and people figuratively fighting for the last scrap of meat. However, if there is one flaw I have when it comes to the story, it has to be the fact that Boomer’s death was only imperative in the first chapter, but in the next ones, he is never mentioned again. One might think that a family member’s death would immediately hit a raw nerve on the characters like Brick and Butch and let a few more chapters or paragraphs be dedicated to honoring his legacy. However, as I read the story, it seems as though that Boomer has become an afterthought after the first chapter and he is never mentioned again. Even more so, he could’ve had a proper burial instead of just having a few words being said about his kindness and benevolence to their team. I am very sure that the author mainly wanted to focus on Brick’s and Butch’s flourishing intimacy, but it would’ve been really nice if Boomer were to have a more proper send-off with the two remaining Rowdyruffs honoring his legacy and even apologizing for all the times they have teased him. Speaking of favorite…

Hey, everybody! Antoni, here. I know I was supposed to review Verdi’s Aida live from the Kungliga Operan. However, last week, I caught a live stream production of Verdi’s Les Vepres Siciliennes live from the Bayerische Staatsoper, which I will most likely make a review of tomorrow, as I need to do some research about the opera’s plot. So, I do apologize for some delays in the reviewing schedule, as I had to deal with a Chemistry exam and I did need to catch up on rest so that I will not over-exert myself. With that said, I am feeling rather naughty right now. I just caught a Powerpuff Girls fanfic that has become a real guilty pleasure of mine, more on that later. It’s called My Dear Sister, written by Yurilover89, published on March 23, 2014, last updated on June 10 of that same year, but it’s incomplete with only two chapters. It’s rated M. It’s in English and the main pairing is…here it goes…Blossom/Buttercup. There are hints of Brick/Buttercup, Butch/Blossom, Boomer/Bubbles, and Princess Morbucks/Bubbles, however, they are only mentioned via exposition. The other character to be involved in this fanfic is Ace from The GangGreen Gang. Even more so, Blossom and Buttercup are 18 years old in this fanfic, so, please, be at ease. If it were not already obvious, this is basically PPGcest fanfic involving Blossom and Buttercup complete with some steamy action between the two. I am probably not alone when I say that although this pairing kind of titillates me on some occasions, I am sort of not a fan of having Blossom and Buttercup being lovers, given the fact that they are sisters. I am sure that there are certain people who jack off to this pairing because these two girls are sexy, but I am surely not one of them. I will gladly reiterate that I always enjoy Blossom’s and Buttercup’s tough love as sisters because these two work so well off of each other when it comes to being opposites of each other and having great dynamics whether they engage in physical combat or show genuine care for each other in spite of their differences. When one combines Blossom’s feminine grace, overall professionalism as a superheroine, her unparalleled skills as a fighter, and her genius bruiser persona, which has always made me love her so much, and Buttercup’s rough and tumble, rebellious, tough, fiercely independent yet reckless attitude, full-fledged bruiser persona, and tomboyish cuteness, which in turn has always made her so endearing, one gets a clear understanding how these two work as characters in terms of dynamics and chemistry. This is the reason why I always enjoy these two together because they have strong personalities as the older daughters of Professor Utonium and the older sisters of Bubbles. However, to pair them up as lovers in fanworks seems wrong as it serves to mainly titillate the mostly adolescent or young adult male demographic. Yet, to the fanfic writers’ and fan artists’ credit, I do fancy some kinky action going on between two of most favorite badass girls of the PPG. It could be their strong personalities that complement each other. It could be their bruiser personalities, what with Blossom being the genius one and Buttercup being the full-fledged one, that makes their interactions really exciting. Or it could just be because Blossom and Buttercup appeal to me a lot more than Bubbles, mostly because I am the eldest in my family and I look up to both of them for having each others’ backs and for being awesome older sisters to Bubbles. With that said, let’s get on to this guilty pleasure of a fanfic. After a long day, Blossom and Buttercup enter their apartment to have a bit of a rest. Their respective boyfriends, Butch and Brick, have gone off to Jamaica and Bubbles has gone to Korea with Professor Utonium for some philanthropy work, leaving the two older Powerpuffs behind. In terms of Bubbles, both Blossom and Buttercup, especially the former, feel envious of their younger sister because she is so well-loved by everyone and is openly bisexual, not only being in a relationship with Boomer but also having some “sessions” with Princess Morbucks, thus making her female partner change her ways. It all comes to a head when Buttercup proclaims her love to Blossom and vice versa, and then they consummate their said feelings of love to each other. Yes, I’m fully aware that there are some people who feel rather dirty when reading this fanfic and others who feel rather aroused seeing two girls in action, but at least it’s enjoyable in a kinky fashion. Moreover, I’m very pleased that the main characters of Blossom and Buttercup are both eighteen in this fanfic, which is definitely considered to be a legal age to be a young adult in many societies, otherwise, the author would’ve faced a lot of trouble for making the girls younger than that age. It is such a shame that this story was left incomplete for four years because I would’ve loved to see where this would all go especially when Brick and Butch are thrown in the mix, it would’ve been temptingly interesting. Butch could make love to Blossom, Brick could make love to Buttercup, Brick could also make love to Blossom, Butch could also make love to Buttercup, and we could have also had a Brick/Butch moment, culminating in a foursome. I would also like this story to have a little bit more substance in terms of character development and not just titillating the mostly male demographic. Would this story also work as a one-shot? Yes, I see why not, mostly because there were times that the story did drag due to some of the dialogue and the naughty bit scenes. For example, the two girls compliment each others’ breasts, buttocks, and naughty parts all while making love in the second chapter. Speaking of my favorite…